Care and control
What motivates people's decisions about the disposal of ashes
Keywords:
Cremated remains, disposal, continuing bonds, letting go, reciprocityAbstract
What motivates the decision to take the ashes of the dead person from the crematorium and dispose of (or keep) them elsewhere? This article reflects on the findings of a sociological study of the views of bereaved people and bereavement professionals about the disposal of cremated remains. It highlights the difficulty of distinguishing between the wish to dispose of the ashes in a way that reflects healthy continuing bonds with the deceased and an unhealthy reluctance to let the dead person go.
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